Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, Chairman of the Solar Energy Association of Ukraine, shared his insights with EnergoReforma following the September forum “Charge and Earn,” which SEAU organized together with PJSC “Market Operator”. He also discussed his view on the current state of the energy storage systems (BESS) market in Ukraine and Europe.
According to Vladyslav Sokolovskyi, the event confirmed the extraordinary interest of the energy community in BESS.
“The forum brought together 383 participants – a clear indication of the topic’s high relevance. Due to the large number of interested parties, we had to double the hall space and even close registration two weeks before the event. The market’s interest in BESS cannot be overstated,” noted SEAU’s Chairman.
Mr. Sokolovskyi emphasized that 2025 marks a new stage in the development of energy storage systems, which combine the electricity market with energy storage investment opportunities.
“One megawatt of BESS capacity can generate up to €140–150 thousand per year thanks to the significant spread between purchase and sale prices,” he stressed.
According to him, the most profitable segment remains the day-ahead market, where price fluctuations create favorable conditions for arbitrage. At the same time, special auctions held by NEC “Ukrenergo” have stimulated the introduction of new BESS, providing winners with five-year contracts for ancillary services.
Among implemented projects, particular attention was drawn to the example of SEAU partner DTEK Renewables, which, together with Fluence, implemented the largest BESS complex in Ukraine with a capacity of 200 MW and storage of 400 MWh.
“This is a powerful resource for stabilizing the energy system, reducing blackout risks, and increasing its resilience under wartime threats. At the same time, it represents a profitable business for investors,” emphasized Mr. Sokolovskyi.
He also noted that the market needs to develop quickly while favorable economic conditions persist:
“In the next 1.5–2 years, large projects will reduce spreads and, accordingly, the profitability of arbitrage models. Right now is the best time to invest in BESS – especially in combination with new or existing solar PV and wind farms.”
Speaking about the European Union’s experience, Vladyslav Sokolovskyi highlighted Poland, where the energy storage market is growing at record rates:
“As of Q1 2025, installed capacity of Polish BESS exceeded 560 MW, and the project portfolio reached over 1.6 GWh. Over the next two years, the sector is expected to grow by 35% annually. This is a good benchmark for the Ukrainian market as well,” he added.
In conclusion, the SEAU Chairman emphasized that energy storage systems remain a key focus of the Association’s activities:
“On November 14, we will hold the Solar & BESS Invest Forum in Warsaw as part of ReBuild Ukraine Energy. The forum will be the main investment platform for discussing the future of solar energy, energy storage systems, and decentralized generation in Ukraine. We invite everyone seeking energy independence and profitable solutions to join this event,” concluded Vladyslav Sokolovskyi.
The Solar & BESS Invest Forum UA will take place on November 14 in Warsaw, organized by SEAU and Premier Expo.